Washing machine and valve therefor



- Nov. 21, 1967 R. N. PRICE WASHING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1965 'mvzlv'ron RUDOLPH N. Pmcs 12mm! H K2ATTORNEY- R. N. PRICE WASHING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Nov. 21, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1965 FIG.3

INVENTOP. RUDOLPH N PRICE A T T ORNEK lll Nov. 21, 1967 R. N. PRICE3,353,545

WASHING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5RUOLPH N. PRICE A TTORNEY 1 R. N. FRiCE 335,55

WASHING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4I N VEN TOR RUDOLPH N. PRICE I Y flww 14.5%

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 21, 1967 R. N. PRICE 3,353,545

WASHING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. PUDOL PH IV. PRICE had H.

A T TORNEK United States Patent Office 3,353,545 WASHING MACHINE ANDVALVE THEREFOR Rudolph N. Price, 59 Mill Spring Road, Manhasset, N.Y.11030 Filed Nov. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 508,984 16 Claims. (Cl. 13495) Thisinvention relates to Washing apparatus for vials, ampules and the likeand more particularly to an improved valve arrangement for use incombination with said washing apparatus.

In my prior patent, US. 2,658,011, issued Nov. 3, 1953, apparatus andthe method of handling and washing ampules and vials in packed lots isdisclosed. The aforementioned patent also reviews in great detail theneed for such washing as well as the method of handling both the ampulesand the vials. While this will not of discussed herein, a briefdescription of the environment of this invention will facilitate anunderstanding of the problems involved and the solution thereto.

A glass manufacturer normally ships ampules to a pharmaceutical company,for example, in one gross cartons containing 9 rows separated by paperboard dividers. Each row contains 16 ampules. A rack is placed over abox of ampules and the box is inverted, leaving the ampules arrayed inthe rack. The rack containing the ampules is then placed in a washingmachine with the open neck of each ampule positioned in opposition to aninjector needle. It is also conventional to wash the outside of thevials and drain the wash Water to an outlet which also receives thewaste injector wash water.

The number and placement of the needless conforms exactly to the numberand placement of the ampules. All of the needles together with amounting plate define a washing head which is replaceable andinterchangeable with other washing heads for differently sized anddiffer ently placed ampules. A gasket is normally employed to seal thewashing head to the housing or sink. The washing cycle may include asilicon coating step, if desired, and after the washing cycle iscompleted the rack, together with the ampules, is removed from themachine and the ampules filled by other equipment.

The prior art washers have presented several problems to thepharmaceutical industry. The solenoid valves heretofore used in thewashing apparatus regularly developed leaks in service and requiredfrequent and substantial maintenance. In addition, the leakage of thesolenoid valves in the off position caused partial vaporization of theWash water and, after a period of time, deposition of solids in thewasher. The present invention solves the leakage problem and reduces therequired maintenance and cleaning by means of a simple yet effective andtrouble free structure.

It has been also found that the prior art devices, having a commonintake manifold under the needles, do not provide a sufiicientlyeffective drainage system for the wash water. It is essential thatcomplete drainage of the intake manifold be effected because parenteralsolutions must be chemically pure and free from contaminating particles.While tap water may be used in the washing cycle, it is important thatit does not become mixed with the fluid used in the final rinse. Tapwater, of course, contains vary amounts of solids (chemicals) and, iftraces of these solids are left in the ampules or vials, the solids willcontaminate them and show up as water marks after they are dried andready to be filled.

In order to have the ampule or vial chemically clean the manifold underthe needles must be completely drained of the prior used washing fluidand either distilled water or steam used in the final rinse. However,large quantities of distilled water are costly and, in somelaboratories, not readily available. The present invention ob- 3,353,545Patented Nov. 21, 1967 viates the need for distilled water by providingcomplete drainage of the intake manifold. Accordingly, relativelyinexpensive and readily available tap water may be used in the finalrinse. The apparatus comprising the present invention provides a washcycle having three basic steps. First, tap water is directed against theampules. Second, the valve and the intake manifold under the needles iscompletely drained; third, steam or air is directed against the ampules.In the particular embodiment of the invention, to be described morefully hereinafter, these three steps are repeated once more in the samesequence and then an extra blast of steam is injected to complete acycle which takes but one minute. Deposition of solids i preventedbecause the improved drainage system assures that there is no mixing oftap water and steam.

The improved valve used in the present invention is designed (l) tolower the cost of manufacturing the washer; (2) reduce the cost ofmaintenance; (3) prevent leakage where it normally occurred in thesolenoid valves; (4) eliminate the sticky pistons that were usuallyfound after extended periods in the solenoid valves; (5) regulate theflow rate to the manifold under the needles; and (6) regulate and timethe injection of wash water for full and complete drainage of the valveand intake manifold.

Accordingly, it. is an object of this invention to provide an improvedwashing apparatus for ampules, vials and the like.

Another object is to provide a more reliable washer of theaforementioned type.

A particular object is to provide an improved drainage system for thewashing fluid used in the apparatus.

A feature of this invention is the inclusion of a flappertype valve thatis held closed by the pressure of the incoming water and isautomatically opened after a predetermined time to permit completedrainage of the device.

Another feature is the provision of a sloping chamber arranged to directall of the wash water into a common outlet port.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a washer forampules, vials or the like that requires less maintenance than prior artdevices.

A still further object is to provide a washer of the aforementioned typehaving an automatic cycle.

Yet another object is to provide an improved washer that operates athigh speed and yet is of relatively small size. 1

It is a particular object vide an improved valve scribed.

Another object is to provide a valve that prevents leaka-ge.

An additional object is to provide an improved valve that regulates theflow rate of the liquids and gases to the manifold.

Yet another object is to provide an improved valve that regulates thetiming cycle for water, for drainage of the valve and intake manifoldand for the injection of steam or air.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will,in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, becomeobvious from the following more detailed description of the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms anintegral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference charactersdesignate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a washer incorporating thefeatures of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing therelationship of an ampule and a needle disposed in a washing head;

of the present invention to profor a washer of the type de- FIG. 2 is across sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing in sectionthe valve mechanism and drive means comprising the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a;bottom .plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view looking upward and taken along line 55of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line 7-/of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing the valveopen and being taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a small portion ofthe cam track;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the flapper valve used in the presentinvention;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 schematically illustrate the relationship betweenthe cam means and the outlet orifices at various stages of the washingcycle.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that washing apparatus 10 iscomprised of a box-like structure 12, commonly known as a sink, andhaving legs 14 depending from each corner and a cover member 16 hingedlysecured on one top edge thereof. Cover member 16 is provided with ahold-down screen 18 that prevents the ampules from blowing off theneedles during the washing. The screen is adjustable in height fordifferent sized ampules. Two washing heads 20 may be seen inside thewasher and the drive and valve assembly 22 may be seen below the washerhousing. FIG. 1A illustrates the manner in which a typical ampule A isplaced into position to be washed. By inverting the cardboard containerin which the ampules are originally delivered by the manufacturer, theampules are placed in transfer plate 24 with their open end facingdownwardly and resting in a threading plate 26 having a number ofconical seats 28. The open end of the ampule is now in opposition to theneedle 30 and is ready to be washed. The needles, which are hollow, havetheir lower ends threaded into a mounting plate 32, such that they arein communication with a manifold 34 formed in the bottommost portion ofhousing 12. A sealing gasket 35 is also provided. Passageway 36communicates with the valve and drive assembly 22 now to be described.

Screws 38 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) secure the valve assembly 22 to theunderside of housing 12. Body portion 40 of the valve assembly isprovided with an annular seat for an O-ring 42, so that a cover plate44, having a central aperture 46 in registry with passageway 36, may bepositioned on the underside of housing 12.

The rear side of body portion 40 is provided with a water inlet 48 (FIG.6) having direct communication, through passageway 50, with water outletports 52 and 54. A steam or air inlet port 56 also at the rear of thebody portion of the valve assembly communicates, by means of passageway58, with outlet ports 60, 62 and 64. Each of the five outlet ports justmentioned terminates in an enlarged portion that provides a seat for aresilient O-ring66 and a Teflon scraper ring 68 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). Thewater outlet ports have scraper rings with relatively large internaldiameters 68a, while the steam outlet port scraper rings have smallerinside diameters 68b. This may be clearly seen in FIG. 4. It will beapparent that one very simple means for changing the flow rate of eitherthe liquid or gas is to change the scraper rings so that either smalleror larger inside diameters are provided. The function of the outletports will be made apparent ,in conjunction with the description of thewashing cycle.

The rear surface of the valve body portion is also provided with adrainage outlet port 70 which is fed by a sloped central area 71. Ofparticular interest is the fact that every portion of the central areais directed towards the outlet port so that complete drainage may beeffected. At the appropriate time of the cycle flapper valve 72 iseither open or closed. Valve 72 is comprised of a disclike body portion74, a pivot arm 76, and a tail portion 78 that lies in a plane slightlyabove the body portion. In the valve closed position the body portionoverlies the internal end of the drainage port and is maintained thereby the pressure of the incoming water. In the valve open position bodyportion 74 is automatically spaced from the internal end of the drainageport by cam plate 80 which is a disc arranged to be rotated about itsown central axis. The cam plate is located in lower chamber 82 formed bythe space above the scraper rings and below the cover plate and isformed with three arcuate grooves 84, 86 and 88, all on a common radius.As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the tail portion of theflapper valve is arranged to ride in and out of the thrree grooves. Whenthe tail portion is in one of the grooves the flapper valve is closed asdescribed above. When the tail portion of'the flapper valve is out ofthe groove and riding along the cam surface in between the grooves, theflapper valve is positively held open for a predetermined timeestablished by the length of the arcuate grooves. It is at this timethat drainage takes place. The cam plate is provided with a singleaperture 90 positioned on the same radius as the five scraper rings andalso a plurality of smaller drain apertures 92 positioned on a commonradius somewhat smaller than that of the three grooves. Apertures 92 arelocated directly over the sloped central portion 71 of the valve body toprovide positive and complete drainage whenever the valve opens.

The cam plate is supported on a central shaft 96 that is journalled inthe body portion of the valve. O-rings 98 provide sealing means aboutthe shaft, and thrust bearing 100 assures smooth rotation of the cam.The cam shaft further includes an external spur gear 102 keyed theretoin a particular relationship to the cam grooves and the scraper rings.Motor 104, through pinion 106mounted on the motor drive shaft, actuatesthe spur gear. The spur gear also includes a pin 108 arranged to engagethe lead spring of a snap-action switch 110 when the wash cycle iscompleted.

Since the spur gear is keyed to the shaft and both the pin 108 andswitch 110 are accurately located, the start and stop points of thecycle are precisely determined. The length of the cycle is of course afunction of the motor characteristics and gear sizes while the length ofeach portion of the cycle (water or steam injection and drainage) isdetermined by the length of the cam grooves and the spaces therebetween.

The cam shaft is held in place by a sleeve 112, a washer 114 and a nut116. While it is unlikely for a leak to develop as readily as with asolenoid valve, if one does occur, the leak may be stopped by turningthe nut to increase the pressure of the cam plate on the Teflon scraperrings. Because the scraper rings have a slippery surface, frictionbetween the rings and cam is minimized even though a considerable forceis applied by tightening nut 116. The O-rings 66 assurea good,leak-proof seal.

Mode of operation The mode of operation of the wash cycle will now bedescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 11 through 13. Assuming that thecycle starts with aperture 90 of the cam plate at the three oclockposition, and the cam plate is rotated counter clockwise, the, aperture90 will approach the first water inlet port 52 while groove 84concurrently approaches the tail of the flapper valve. FIG. 11 shows insolid outline the aperture 90 of the cam plate 80 approaching firstwater inlet 52 and shows in dot and dash outline the aperture havinggone past the inlet 52. The flapper valve body portion is closed againstthe drainage outlet port during this time and does not open until groove84 passes the flapper tail portion.

The valve remains open to permit drainage of the water sprayed againstthe amples, until the aperture 90 approaches the first steam outlet port60. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12 in solid outline, the valve closesand remains closed because groove 86 is positioned over the tail of theflapper valve. The valve remains closed until after aperture 90 passesover the second water inlet aperhim 54. The dot and dash outline shownin FIG. 12 illustrates'the opening of the flapper valve at this time topermit drainage of the water that has collected in the plenum chamberand valve.

The flapper'v'alve automatically closes as the aperture approaches thesecond steam outlet port 62. This is shown in FIG. 13. The valve remainsclosed during the continued rotary movement of the complete apertureover the secnd and third steam ejection ports because the tail of theflapper valve is riding in groove 88. This final position is shown indot and dashoutline in FIG. 13. The valve remains closed until the firstgroove 84 again approaches the tail of the flapper valve-and theaperture 90 in the cam plate once again approaches the first water inletport 52. The entire cycle takes but one minute and is completed by pin108'contacting' the micro switch.

The apparatus described is compact,'ru gged and extremely efiici'ent.The operation of the valve is completely automatic and provides thedesired cycling of water and steam. Full and complete drainage isautomatically provided, as required, after each water injection, so thatthere is no contamination ,of the steam that follows. The timing of thedrainage cycles may readily be regulated by the use of diflferentcamsand the fluid flow rate to the manifold may be regulated by the choiceof scraper rings. It will be evident that leakage normally found withthe use of, solenoid valves-is very unlikely with the present apparatus.The structure is extremely reliable and only a minimum of maintenance isrequired. Having thus disclosed the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated, it is to be understood that various changesandmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary control valve for cycling-the flow of at least one type offluid, said valve comprising:

(a) a body memberhaving a chamber therein;

7 (b) atleast one fluidintake passageway having a first end incommunication with the chamber in said body member to-define a fluidoutlet port, the opposite, second end of said passageway being adaptedto receive the fluid to be controlled by said valve;-

(0) a fluid discharge passageway-havin'g'a first end in communicationwith the chamber in said body member and a second end terminating at theexterior sur face of said body member;

(d) a flapper valve pivotally disposed in said body member in coveringrelationship to the first end of said discharge passageway, said flappervalve having a tail portion defining a cam follower;

(e) a substantially flat cam member rotatably disposed in the chamber ofsaid body member, said cam member having a first aperture arranged toregister with the first end of said fluid outlet port, a plurality ofsecond apertures in continuous communication with said fluid dischargepassageway and a cam surface arranged to engage said flapper valve tailportion when the first cam aperture is out of registry with the outletend of said fluid intake passageway; and

(f) means to rotate said cam member whereby said cam member aperture isintermittently registered with the outlet port of said body memberintake passageway and said cam surface intermittently engages saidflapper valve tail portion.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body memberincludes a plurality of said intake passageways whereby said valve isadapted to control the flow of at least two difierent fluids.

3. A rotary control valve for cycling the flow of at least two diflerentfluids, said valve comprising:

' (a) a. body member having a chamber therein;

(b) an intake passageway contained in said body member for each of thefluids to be controlled, the first end of each of said passageways beingin communication with the chamber in said body member to define fluidoutlet ports, the opposite, second end of each of said passageways beingadapted to receive the fluid to be controlled by said valve;

(c) a fluid discharge passageway having a first end in communicationwith the chamber in said body mem ber and a second end terminating atthe exterior surface of said body member;

((1) a flapper valve pivotally disposed in said body member in coveringrelationship to the first end of said discharge passageway, said flappervalve having a tail portion defining a cam follower;

(e) a substantially flat cam member rotatably disposed in the chamber ofsaid body member, said cam member having a first aperture arranged toregister with the first end of each of said fluid outlet ports, aplurality of second apertures in communication with said fluid dischargepassageway and a plurality of aligned cam surfaces arranged to engagesaid flapper valve tail portion when the first cam aperture is out ofregistry with the outlet end of said fluid intake passageway; and

(f) means to rotate said cam member whereby said cam member aperture isintermittently registered with the outlet ports of said body memberintake passageways and said cam surfaces intermittently engage saidflapper valve tail portion.

4. The device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to rotatesaid cam member comprises:

(a) a motor;

(b) a gear train driven by said motor;

(c) a shaft journaled in said body member, one end of said shaft beingsecured to said cam member, the other end of said shaft being driven bysaid gear train, there being further included sealing means and bearingmeans interposed between said shaft and said body member.

5. The device in accordancewith claim 3 wherein each of said outletports is defined by an annular shoulder and wherein there is furtherincludedannular, resilient sealing means seated on each said shoulderand an annular orifice member having a low coefiicient of frictionseated n; each said sealing member, said. cam'member being arranged forsliding engagement with said orifice members. i V i i 6. The device inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said outlet ports are angularly spacedfrom each other on a common radius and the first aperture in said cammember is disposed on a radius having a similar dimension to that ofsaid outlet ports.

7. The device in accordance with claim 3 wherein one of said intakepassageways for a first fluid is in communication with at least twooutlet ports and another of said intake passageways for a second fluidis in communication with at least two other outlet ports.

8. The device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said outlet ports forthe two fluids are angularly spaced from each other on a common radiusand are arrayed in an alternating pattern.

9. The device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the outlet ports forthe first fluid are larger than the outlet ports for the second fluid.

10. The device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said flapper valvecomprises: a substantially flat disc portion of suflicient size to coverthe first end of said discharge passageway, a pivot member integral withsaid disc portion, said pivot member being journalled in said bodymember of said valve and a tail portion integral with said disc portionand disposed in a plane other than that of said disc portion.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said cam surfacesare defined by a plurality of grooves in one face of said cam member,said grooves being arcuate and positioned on a common radius, saidgrooves being angularly spaced from each other whereby said tail portionof said flapper valve alternately engages a groove and then a flat camface between said grooves when said cam is rotated, said flapper valvebeing thereby pivoted between an open position and a closed positionwith respect to the fluid discharge passageway.

12. Washing apparatus for open ended ampules, vials or the like, saidapparatus comprising:

(A) a housing;

(B) a threading plate disposed in said housing, said threading platehaving a plurality of apertures therein adapted to receive the articlesto be washed with the open ends thereof facing downwardly;

(C) a plurality of hollow elongated needles secured in said housing withthe first end of each of said needles spaced opposed to one of theapertures in said threading plate;

(D) a rotary control valve for cycling the flow of at least twodifferent fluids to the second end of each of said needles, said valvecomprising:

(a) a body member having a chamber therein;

(b) an intake passageway contained in said body member for each of thefluids to be controlled, the first end of each of said passageways beingin communication with the chamber in said body member to define fluidoutlet ports, the opposite, second end of each of said passageways beingadapted to receive the fluid to be controlled by said valve;

() a fluid discharge passageway having a first end in communication withthe chamber in said body member and a second end terminating at theexterior surface of said body member;

(d) a flapper valve ,pivotally disposed in said body member in coveringrelationship to the first end of said discharge passageway, said flappervalve having a tail portion defining a cam follower;

(e) a substantially 'flat cam member rotatably disposed in the chamberof said body member, said cam member having a first aperture arranged toregister with the first end of each of said fluid outlet ports, aplurality of second apertures in communication'with said fluid dischargepassageway a'nd a plurality of aligned cam surfaces arranged to engagesaid flapper valve tail portion when the first cam aperture is out ofregistry with the outlet end of said fluid intake passageway; and

(1) means to rotate said .cam member whereby said cam member aperture isintermittently registered with the outlet ports of said body memberintake passageways and said cam surfaces intermittently engage zsaidflapper valve tail portion.

13. The device in accordance with claim 12 wherein each-of said outletports is defined by anannular shoulder and wherein there is furtherincluded annular, resilient sealing means seated on each said shoulderand an annular orifice member having a low coeflicient of frictionseated on each said sealing member, said cam member being arranged forsliding engagement with said orifice members.

14. The device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the outlet ports forthe first fluid are larger than the outlet ports for the second fluid.

15. The device in accordance with claim 12 wherein said flapper valvecomprises: a substantially flat disc portion of sufficient size to coverthe first end of said discharge passageway, a pivot member integral withsaid disc portion, said pivot member being journalled in said bodymember of said valve and a tail portion integral with said disc portionand disposed in a plane other than that of said disc portion.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said cam surfacesare defined by a plurality of grooves in one face of said cam member,said grooves being arcuate and positioned on a common radius, saidgrooves being angularly spaced from each other whereby said tail portionof said flapper valve alternately engages a groove and then a flat oamface between said grooves when said cam is rotated, said flapper valvebeing thereby pivoted between an open position and a closed positionwith respect to the fluid discharge passageway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,695 1/1951 Ratner 134-4712,658,011 11/1953 Price 134-171 X 2,963,029 12/1960 Bock 134-95 X3,125,959 3/1964 Stoddard et a1 134-96 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, PrimaryExaminer.

R. L. BLEUTGE, Examiner.

1. A ROTARY CONTROL VALVE FOR CYCLING THE FLOW OF AT LEAST ONE TYPE OFFLUID, SAID VALVE COMPRISING: (A) A BODY MEMBER HAVING A CHAMBERTHEREIN; (B) AT LEAST ONE FLUID INTAKE PASSAGEWAY HAVING A FIRST END INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE CHAMBER IN SAID BODY MEMBER TO DEFINE A FLUIDOUTLET PORT, THE OPPOSITE, SECOND END OF SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING ADAPTEDTO RECEIVE THE FLUID TO BE CONTROLLED BY SAID VALVE; (C) A FLUIDDISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY HAVING A FIRST END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THECHAMBER IN SAID BODY MEMBER AND A SECOND END TERMINATING AT THE EXTERIORSURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER; (D) A FLAPPER VALVE PIVOTALLY DISPOSED INSAID BODY MEMBER IN COVERING RELATIONSHIP TO THE FIRST END OF SAIDDISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY, SAID FLAPPER VALVE HAVING A TAIL PORTION DEFININGA CAM FOLLOWER;